Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-01-28
vbe FisE,eries <eueseiOr..

The Toronto. Ont, Nal Of yesterday
says: SIT is unfortunate for Canadian iHter-
ests that general election should be in
progress at the time when our American
neighbors are legislating against US. 1t is
true, the bellicose speeches delivered il the
United States Senate the other day need
not be taken seriously. Nevertheless, it is
abundantly evident from the better class OF
American journals that our neghbors are
determined to adopt spirited foreign
policy'-in plain English, 70 steal our Geh,
and to punish US if we attempt TO prevent
them. England is the party with which
the Americans have TO denl, but the Foreign
Office in London is largely influenced by
the Colonial Office, which in turn receives
its inspiration from Ottawa. 1t is 2 piece
of i'll luck, therefore, that .at such Q critical
iuncture our ministers should be occupied
in election matters, and that IN the mari
time provinces politicians on both sides
should be making speeches on the fishery
question which may prejudice or embarras5
the government in the delicate negotiations
now in progress. It is no use blinking at
the fact that Canada is ct grave disad-
vantage in this controversy. On enc
hand the Americana of the ingalls,
and Riddleberger stamp refuse Us
fair hearing simply because We are
British. On the other hand, Our govern
ment must abide by the terms which the
imperial authorities may be driven to ac-
cent in their own interest, wholly rrespec
tive of the merits of our case. We suffer
from American prejudice against England,
and from England's unwiii!nguess and ina
blity TO make cur case her own, and be-
twixt the two it will be miracle If we are
not shorn. The Foreign Otfice will make
show of protecting our rights, bus the capt.
tai consideration with Lord Salisbury Will
be, not the justice Of our cause 50 much as
the necessity fer maintainiDg cordial reia-
tious with the United States. 1t may ba
taken for granted, then, that whatever form
the settlement with the United States may
take, we are sure to get little the worse OF
the bargain"
Mr.. McLelan, late Canadian minister of
fisheries says respecting the D5munds bill
Canada in every instance has shown the
greatest courtesy to the fishermen Of the
United States when keeping them within
the treaty boundg. The whole trouble
in arriving at Q settlement, believe, has
arisen from tbs misrepresentation on
the part of captains Of American fishing
vessels of the action OF The Canadian
authorities All we want TO do is 70 stand
by our rights as defined by the treaty. This
retaliatory bill proposes to prevent imPorta-
tions from Canada of fish or any other Cana
dian product which may be so declared
against by the proclamation Of the PTesi-
dent. 1t is well known that they oaunotdo
without our fish. According 10 theis latest
census returns the value Of their fisheries,
exclusive of oysters, The production civil hich
in the United States, L admit, is yor3 great,
only averaged 40 cents per head of their
population annually, ard 80 one pFetends
to say tbat is sufficient FOR their people.
Since the catch of fish has not heen largely
augmented-I am inclined to thiak it has
been decreased-whle at the same time the
population has largely increased, SO that
they are dependent to u great extent on
other countries for their supply. am in
clined to think that this bin will cut Goth
ways, ard do not anticinate chat we shall
be greatly troubled by it. What steps this
government will take in the matter | am
not prepared to say"